Stitch-transferring device



Aug. 10, 1943. I J. SIRMAY 2,326,694

STITCH-TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed NOV. 8, 1938 )W' I ATTOREENEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1943 2,326,694 STITCH-TRANSFERR'ING DEVICE Julius Sirmay, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Jacquard Knitting Machine 00., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New York Application November 8, 1938, Serial No. 239,499

11 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for transferring stitches from one needle to another in knitting machines, or to. another loop-receiving instrument, whereby pattern or design effects by eyelets, transferred stitches, rib work on a jersey background and other fabrics or eifects are produced. Preferably the transferring device (and each of them) is itself a knitting needle with addition-s and supplemental parts. i

Prior to transferring a loop from one needle to another needle or to some other form of loopreceiving instrument, it is necessary to open the loop to admit the receiving instrument and it is at least desirable to enlarge the loop tobe trans,- ferred so that the needle receiving the loop will have room to enter the latter. The loop is enlarged by drawing into it yarn from the loop or loops at one or both sides of it. Heretofore transfer needles and instruments have been so constructed that they enlarge .the loop by expanding it sideways as it were, for example by pressure against one or both legs of the loop in a transverse direction. Such transverse expansion of the loop requires that considerable strain be put on the loop and as a result the yarns break undesirably frequently.

My invention provides an improved construction whereby the loop enlargement is effected with less strain on the yarn, and also assures transference of the loop to another needle with certainty.

The subject matter of this application is illustrated and described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 78,920, filed May 9, 1936, but the claims thereto in that application have been cancelled therefrom under a requirement for division.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a. preferred form of my invention from which its nature will be apparent. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a transfer needle of my invention, a cooperating needle or other loop-receiving instrument and also two positions of yarn loops being indicated therein as well. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the matter of Fig. l.

The needle 5 is a sliding latch needle, such as may be used in the cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The instrument to receive loops drawn by the needle 5, as and when desired, is indicated diagrammatically at 6; this instrument may be a dial needle of the sliding latch type as will be understood.

A transfer clip 26, so called, is provided at and bulges from one side of the needle 5 as will be understood from prior practices; preferably the clip is attached to and carried by the needle at an appropriate distance below the needle hook as I will be understood, but that is not entirely essential. The end of the clip nearest the needle hook is free (unattached to the needle), and usually a depression is provided in the side of the needle 5 in which this free pointed end 58 of the clip lies normally; the purpose of this is to permit the end 56 of the clip to pass readily into a loop 57 hanging on the needle as the clip is raised toward transferring position. At or near the forward edge of the needle is provided a projection 58 to enter the loop prior to the passing into the loop of that portion of the clip which is farthest separated from the needle side; this projection extends forwardly, and is inclined forwardly and downwardly in such a manner as to draw out a loop 5'! on the needle as the projection is thrust upwardly into the loop, drawing it out in a direction directly away from the edge of the fabric. That is to say, the projection 58 has a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle (and may have a thickness much less than the thickness of the needle as shown in the drawing), and the projection extends forwardly to such a distance that the greatest circumscribing perimeter around the projection is greater than the perimeter of a loop as drawn initially by the needle hook. The thickness dimensions here referred to are those dimensions that are measurable at right angles to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 2; width dimensions are those dimensions that are measurable at right angles to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 1. By circumscribing perimeter it will be understood that I mean the perimeter as measured by the length of a thread necessary to circumscribe or enclose the projection and passing around the back of the needle. Preferably the projection '58 is an integral part of the needle-and-clip combination, and preferably is a projection from the forward edge of the needle, as illustrated. Beyond (that is to say, at points further removed from the needle hook than, and in the case of a cylinder needle, below) the most forwardly extending point on the projection, the clip may be shaped to somewhat extend the forward and downward incline of-the projection as it were, as the clip departs from the needle side; that is to say, the clip 24 may be so shaped that the loop, after leaving the projection 58 and passing onto and along the clip, is drawn out still farther in the direction generally away from the edge of the fabric; this is shown in Fig. 2 immediately below the end 56 of the clip. However this may be, beyond the most forwardly extending point on the projection, the forward edge of the clip is located further forward than the part of the forward edge of the needle which is adjacent thereto, at its maximumthis difference preferably being as considerable as reasonably possible, as illustrated just above the shoulder Or notch 6| on the clip in Fig. 2; to this end, when the projection 58 is not formed entirely on the clip 24 the projection 58 retreats downwardly toward the back of the needle as it were (Fig. 2); as a result, as the clip rises through the loop 51 (now enlarged by the draft of the project-ion) and carries one leg 62 of the 100p to one side (Fig. 1. and perhaps carries the loop end still further forward, due to the downward and outward inclination of the forward edge of the clip, Fig. 2, as before noted), the opposite leg 59 of the loop is allowed more and more to take a diagonal direction from near the back edge of the needle to the forward edge of the clip 24; a recession by a gradual incline on 58 as shown in Fig. 2 is preferable but not altogether necessary. At about the point where the clip is farthest separated from the needle side a notch or shoulder 60 is preferably provided to receive the loop at some distance from the clip, that is to say, adjacent the needle, and preferably is provided on the forward part of the needle, or at about the same locality a shoulder or indentation BI is provided on the forward edge of the clip; preferably both such notches are provided. The back or forwardly facing wall of the notch or shoulder 6| on the clip against which the loop rests (or this part of the clip edge. if no shoulder is provided here) also is located further forward than 3.

the adjacent i'orward edge of the needle (Fig. 2) so that at this shoulder or point also the yarn extends diagonally from the needle to the clip; i, e., when both shoulders 6D and Bi are employed the back wall of the clip shoulder Si is located further forward than the back wall of the needle shoulder (Fig. 2). Preferably the back wall of the clip shoulder 8! is located slightly less forward than the furthest forward point on the clip so that the yarn will more readily drop to this shoulder (Fig. 2).

In transferring a loop 51 from the needle 5, the needle is moved through the loop to place the loop back of (e. g. below) the needle hook; in the case of latch needles, the latch is passed completely through the loop (Figs. 1 and 2). Say thereafter, the projection 58 is moved into the loop 51; as this projection moves into the loop it acts on the loop lengthwise of the loop, and this lengthwise draft on a loop, initially drawn by the needle too small to pass over (circumscribe) the projection. causes additional yarn to be drawn from the adjacent loop or loops and delivered into the loop to be transferred, whereby the latter loop is enlarged with the minimum effort and accordingly minimum of strain on the yarn. The clip 24 is then moved into the loop (or passed further into it), and any continuation of the incline on the projection 58 that may be provided by the clip may act to draw out the loop 51 still further in a more or less lengthwise direction. Continued movement of the clip passes the bulge of the clip into or further into the loop, with perhaps further enlargement of the loop, and as this occurs the retreat of the projection 53 allows the adjacent leg 59 of the loop to swing over somewhat, diagonally as it were, toward the clip, the diagonal placement of the leg 59 permitting the clip to open a loop of minimum size sufiiciently to admit the loop-receiving instrument. Ultimately the continued movement brings to the loop the shoulder 60 or the shoulder 6| (or both of them if two such shoulders as 60 and BI are used). The loop 51 has now been opened sufficiently, or substantially sufficiently, to permit the instrument 6 to enter it, the opposite leg 62 of the loop has been swung to permit the needle 6 to pass between the two legs, a definite cross-bar 63 has been provided for reception by the needle 6, (regarding the instrument which is to receive the loop as the needle), and the shoulder or shoulders 60, 6| establish this cross-bar at a definite position with respect to the receiving needle 6. For certainty of operation (although this may not always be necessary), I preferably first move the shoulder or shoulders to a position wherein the loop leg 62 is definitely short of the path of the receiving needle 6, and stop them in this position (Fig. 2)

then move the needle 6 over this leg 62, stopping it short of the cross-bar 63; then move the shoulder or shoulders another step to place the crossbar 63 definitely beyond the path of the needle 6, the needle 6 now holding the loop leg 62 at the opposite side of this needle should this further movement of the shoulder or shoulders tend to place the leg 62 at the same side of the receiving needle path as the cross-bar 63; and then move the receiving needle 6 another step to place its hook beyond the cross-bar; if desired, such steps can be taken as parts of continuous operations timed as here indicated. The receiving needle 6 is now definitely within the loop; incidentally, it projects within the clip 2 3 also. The clip 24 and the projection 58 and needle hook (if one or both the latter have not already been withdrawn) are now moved in the opposite direction to withdraw them from the loop, leaving the latter hanging on the needle 5; the needle 6 escapes from its enclosure within the clip by reason of the fact that the elasticity of the clip 24 permits its free end 56 to-ride over the side of needle 6 as the clip is moved out of the loop. The loop 51 having thus been transferred from needle 5 to needle 6, the operations of the knitting machine may now proceed in any desired manner as will be understood. Obviously too the various parts mentioned can be operated in the manner described, or in any other appropriate manner, by various mechanisms as will be understood. When the projection 58, clip 24 and shoulder or shoulders 60, iii are parts of or carried by the needle 5 as illustrated, mechanism acting on the needle alone will serve to carry these latter parts as well as the needle hook (and latch) through their necessary positions. My co-pending application Ser. No. 78,920, in which subject matter herein contained was presented originally discloses mechanism for operating, in the manner described, such a compound transfer needle as I have here illustrated.

' As will be apparent from the foregoing, my invention can be incorporated in various forms and accordingly is not limited to the details of construction and operation described above and illustrated in the drawing except as appears hereafter in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a needle having a .hook at an end thereof, a sidewise-extending loop-opening clip at one side of the needle and having its end nearer the needle hook free, and a forwardly-extending projection, inclined for wardly and downwardly, to enter a loop to be transferred prior to the entry therein of the widest extent of the clip and of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle, characterized by the fact that the forwardly-facing edge of the clip substantially continues the forward and downward inclination of said projection to a point further forward than any point on the projection.

2. In a knitting machine, a needle having a hook at an end thereof, a sidewise-extending loop-opening clip at one side of the needle and having its end nearer the needle hook free, and a forwardly-extending projection, inclined forwardly and downwardly, to enter a loop to be transferred prior to the entry therein of the widest extent of the clip and of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle, characterized by the fact that beyond said free end of the clip, said projection retreats toward the back of the needle to a point spaced from the back of the needle a distance substantially equal to the distance between the back of the needle and that end of the projection which is the nearer to the needle hook.

3. In a knitting machine, a needle having a hook at an end thereof, a sidewise-extending loop-opening clip at one side of the needle and having its end nearer the needle hook free, and a forwardly-extending projection, inclined forwardly and downwardly, to enter a loop to be transferred prior to the entry therein of the widest extent of the clip and of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle, characterized by the fact that beyond said free end of the clip said projection retreats toward the back of the needle, and adjacent said a retreating part of the projection a portion of the forward edge of the clip on which loops slide stands further forward than said retreating portion of the projection,

4. In a knitting machine, a needle having a hook at an end thereof, a sidewise-extending loop-opening clip at one side of the needle and having its end nearer the needle hook free, and

. a forwardly-extending projection, inclined forwardly and downwardly, to enter a loop to be transferred prior to the entry therein of the Widest extent of the clip and of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle, characterized by the fact that, beyond the most forwardly extending point on the projection, a yarn-holding shoulder is provided adjacent the clip and the forwardly-facing loopengaging wall at the root of said shoulder stands further forward than the adjacent part of the forward edge of the needle so that at the shoulder the yarn of the loop extends diagonally from the needle to the clip.

5. In a knitting machine, a needle having a hook at an end thereof, a sidewise-extending loop-opening clip at one side of the needle and having its end nearer the needle hook free, and a forwardly-extending projection, inclined forwardly and downwardly, to enter a loop to be transferred prior to the entry therein of the widest extent of the clip and of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle, characterized by the fact that. beyond the beginning of the forward and downward incline, a yarn-holding shoulder is provided adjacent the clip and a cooperating yarn-holding shoulder is provided at some distance from the clip and adjacent the needle and the forwardly facing loop-engaging wall at the root of the shoulder adjacent the clip stands further forward than the wall back of the shoulder that is some distance from the clip, 50 that at the said shoulders the yarn of the loop extends diagonally from the needle to the clip.

.6. A knitting machine needle having a hook at one end and a loop-opening clip, the end of the clip nearer said hook being free and the needle having a recess within which said end of the clip normally lies, and the forward edge of the needle being provided with a forwardlyextending projection adjacent the free end of the clip and which inclines thence toward the needle hook and is of reduced dimension on the side away from the hook, characterized by the fact that beyond the most forwardly extending point on the projection the clip extends still further forward, and beyond such further forwardlyextending portion the clip is provided with a yarn-holding shoulder and the forward edge of the needle is provided with a cooperating yarnholding shoulder, and the forwardly-facing loopengaging wall at the root of the shoulder on the clip stands further forward than the forwardlyfacing loop-engaging wall at the root of the needle shoulder,

7. A knitting machine needle having a hook at one end, a side-wise extending loop-opening clip, the end of the clip nearer the hook being free to move toward and from the side of the needle, and a forwardly-extending projection of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle adjacent the hook, the forward edge of said projection having a forwardly and downwardly extending incline, that portion of the clip which, sidewise, is located farthest away from the side of the needle being located more remote from the needle hook than said incline, and the forward edge of said portion of the clip being at least substantially as remote from the back of the needle as that part of the projection that extends farthest forward, characterized by the fact that at a place more remote from the hook than said end of the clip, the forward edge of said projection retreats toward the back of the needle and the forward edge of the clip is located farther forward than the forward edge of the adjacent part of the needle.

8. The subject matter of claim 7, characterized by the fact that at said place more remote from the hook than said end of the clip; not only does the forward edge of said projection retreat toward the back of the needle but also the forward edge of the clip is inclined forwardly and downwardly.

. 9. A knitting machine needle having a hook at one end, a sidewise extending loop-opening clip at one side, the end of the clip nearer the hook being free to move toward and from the side of the needle, and a forwardly-extending projection of a thickness not substantially greater than the thickness of the needle adjacent the hook, the forward edge of said projection having a forwardly and downwardly extending incline, that portion of the clip which, sidewise, is located farthest away from the side of the needle being located more remote from the needle hook than said incline, and the forward edge of said portion of the clip being at least substantially as remote from the back of the needle as that part of the projection that extends farthest forward, characterized by the fact that at a place more remote from the hook than said end of the clip, the forward edge of said projection retreats toward the back of the needle and the projection substantially terminates, the forward edge of the clip continues to be remote from the back of the needle, and adjacent the point of termination of the projection the clip is provided with a loop-engaging shoulder.

10. A knitting machine needle having a hook at one end, a sidewise extending loop-opening clip at one side, the end of the clip nearer the remote from the back of the needle as that part of the projection that extends farthest forward, characterized by the fact that at a place more remote from the hook than said end of the clip, the forward edge of said projection retreats toward the back of the needle and the projection substantially terminates, the forward end of the clip continues to be remote from the back of the needle, and adjacent the point of termination of the projection the needle is provided with a loop-engaging shoulder.

11. The subject matter of claim 9, further characterized by the fact that adjacent said point of termination of the projection, the needle is provided with a loop-engaging shoulder.

JULIUS SIRMAY. 

